Driving and steering mechanism for power-operated vehicles.



1. W. BOULD. DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

1 23,804, Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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I I I BY I ATTORNEY.

I. W. BOULD.

DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILEDIMAY 15, 1911.

' 1,0233%, Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

I 2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

- [NVEN TOR. By (flaw A TZORNE Y.

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DRIVING AND STEERING MECHANISM FOR POWER-OPERATED VEHICLES.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23-, 1912?,

Application fil ed may 15, 1911. Serial No. 627,135.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, IRAM W. Boom, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Driving and Steering Mechanism for Power-Operated Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. Z

The fundamental object of my invention involves the provision of a new and useful improvement in steering apparatus for use on vehicles of the engine or motor driven class, whereby the front axle, while coupled' up with the engine or motor and under power from the same, can be turned by the operator at any desired angle to the rear axle. In this way a vehicle equipped with my invention can be turned within a very short radius either with or without the front axle being under power, which fact will be of great advantage to heavily loaded trucks when obliged to turn in a narrow space.

My invention further has for. its object the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the, accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment thereof, reserving the right however to make alterations and amendments in the detail form of construction which will be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Referr ng then to said drawings, Figure 1 shows an elevation of my steering and regulating apparatus as applied to the axle of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing shiftablegearing for operating the axle shaft as coupled with a power driven shaft. Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the mechanism I employ for engaging and disengaging the wheel clutch, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the driving and steering mechanism.

Secured to the under frame of the vehicle in any suitable manner, and in conjunction with the ordinary arrangement'of' springs, not shown, is a supporting frame 1,

the lower'extremity thereof'being formed with an outwardly projecting flange portion 2; which describes a com lete circle of pre-' determined diameter. cured to this frame 1, midway of the vertically disposed side pieces, is a stirrup or U-shaped member '3, to the lower extremit of which is operatively mounted a twoaced bevel gear 4, the lower face of which meshes with a single bevel gear 5 mounted on and fixed to the tubular shaft 6. This said shaft receives the axle 7, which has im eded movement therethrough, and permits, ee action of the wheels when not coupled up and under power.

:The driving shaft 8, suspended by hangers 979, operates through the stirrup 3, and carries a clutch operated c'ollarlO keyed to said shaft, on said collar being mounted two fixed bevel gears-1L and 12 respectively, the bevelportions facing each other, as shown,

and are adapted to alternately engage or I disengage the upper beveled face of the gear 4. This shaft 8 can be driven from either the front or rear, as indicated by its broken formation, but whendriven from the rear an angularly disposed universal connection 8' .is preferably utilized for clearance purposes, as will appear further on in the de-- scrlptlon. I

, Positioned around the shaft 6, adjacentto each wheel 13, is a collar 14, which supports a circular T-shaped table member 15, the

horizontal'flange of which is intended to closely enga e and bear against the under side of the i 16 being employed to unite these two elements 2 and 15 in operative position. Radiating inwardly from this said circular portion 15 are a plurality of integral spokesor'strengtheni-ng members 17, their inner extremities carrym a circular toothed rack 18. Meshing wit this said rack is a .pin-' ange 2, suitable clip members ion 19 mounted at the lower extremity of a vertically disposed steerin shaft-20, adequately'supported by the frame 1,'and o eratable from 'a' convenient pointwithin t e vehicle. A lever operated rod 21, also at the ready convenience of the operator, serves to control the clutch 22, which acts to reciprocally present either the gear 12 to drive the shaft 6 in one direction, or else the gear 11 to drive said shaft in an opposite direction. Directly underneath the circular rack 18 is positioned in close proximity thereto a similar shaped rack 23, of slightly lessldi ameter, that is operativel suspended from said rack 18 by suitable permits of a free rotary movement of said rack23.

A-pinion 25 meshing with the teethiof the rack 23, carried at the lower extremity of an operating shaft 26 supported through the frame 1,- and provided at any suitable point with, a releasable clutch 26', serves as a means for rotating said rack 23, which, actangers 24: which should run free.

ing in conjunction with the links 27, rods 28, and clutch 29, affords a means for coupling the wheels with the power driven shaft 6,

or for uncoupling said wheels from the power drive whenever it is desired they shaft 6 and axle 7 in the same are ofl travel described by the said table 15. By this means the front axle and wheels can be caused to perform a complete circle or assume any degree of angle to its normal horizontal positlon.

While this turning movement is in progress the bevel gear 5 is free to travel in mesh against the lower face of the gear 4, thereby performing the function of a rotary pivotal point while the drivingshaft 8' is under power from the engine or motor; not shown. While the machine is in a passive condition the engine or motor may be allowed to run free without affecting the drivin mechanismby a partial movement of the clutch lever '21, which acts to slide the collar 10 and disengage both gears 11 and 12 from mesh with the gear 4. Then if the vehicle is to be moved forward or backward the steering mechanism, as above described, is brought into service, which transmits power to the tubular shaft 6, but does not affect the axle 7 and wheels 13 until the next, succeeding operation. This consists in bringing the clutch 26? into union with theshaft 26, then by rotating said shaft the pinion 25 moves the rack 23 a slight distance suflicient to cause the links 27 androds-28 to operate and throw the two parts of the clutch 29 into mesh with each other, in which position the wheels will be brought under direct powerof the driving mechanism.

A power driven vehicle equipped with my steering mechanism can be turned in a c0 m paratively small space, and at the same time be under direct drivefrom the engine or motor, which will be a great advantage in heavilloaded trucks where it is necessary to ma e a-short turn. It is also possible in'conjunction with my invention to drive all four wheels, thus deriving the maximum of efliciency and power from the engine or motor.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A driving and steering mechanism for self propelled vehicles involving suitable frame work; a circular flanged bearing lifiember carried by the said frame; a tubular -($5 s aft for housing the axle; a circular table supported by the'axle shaft adapted for rotation against the flanged bearing member; means'for holding said table and flanged portion in operative-position; a bevel gear mounted over the axle shaft; a double faced horizontally disposed bevel gear suitably supported forrotation the lower face of which meshes with the first mentioned bevel gear on the axle shaft and the upper face adapted to mesh with reversing bevel gears mounted on the power shaft; clutch means for forcing the last mentioned gears alternately into or out of engagement with the double faced gear; a. circularinner toothed rack member carried by the said table surrounding the gearing; a shaft operated pmion meshing with said rack for revolving the table and turning the axle at any desired angle; a second inner toothed rack suitably supported for-rotation beneath the first mentioned rack; a shaft operated ing with the said second rack to rotate same; and clutch means, involving suit-able connections acting in conjunction with the movement of the said second rack, to throw the wheels into or out of engagement with the power driven shaftQ v 2. A driving and steering mechanism for self propelled vehicles involving suitable frame work; a circular flanged bearing member carried by the said frame; a tubular shaft for housin the axle; a circular table supported by t e axle shaft adapted for rotation against the flanged bearing member; means for holding said table and flanged P01131011 in operative position; a

bevel gear mounted over the axle shaft; a double faced horizontally disposed bevel gear suitably supported for rotation, the lower'face of which meshes with the first mentioned bevel gear on the axle shaft, and the upper face adapted to mesh withreversing bevel ears slidably mounted on the power sha t; lever operated clutch means for forcing the last mentioned gears alternately into or out of engagement with the upper portion of the double faced gear; a circular inner toothed rack member carried by the said table surrounding the gearlng;

a shaft operated pinion meshing with said rack for revolving the table thereby turning the axle in any desired angle; a second inner toothed'rack suitably supported for rotation beneath the first mentioned rack; a slidable clutch on the axle shaft to mesh with a fixed clutch carried by the wheel; links connecting said second rack and slidable clutch; and a shaft operated pinion meshing with the said second rack to rotate same and operate the wheel clutch 3. A driving and steering mechanism for power vehicles involving suitable gearing; a tubular shaft for housing. the axle; lever o erated clutch means for controlling the direction of drive; a frame for housing the gearing involving a circular flanged bearing portion; a circular table supported by the axle shaft, adapted for rotation against the flanged bearing portion; means for holding said table and flanged portion in operative position; an interiorly positioned toothed rack carried by the table; a shaft operated pinion meshing with said rack for revolving the table and turning the axle; a second toothed rack suitably supported beneath the first mentioned rack adapted for rotation; a slidable clutch on the axle shaft to'mesh In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

IRAM WV. BOULD.

Witnesses:

A. E. FoRTLAoE, J. P. APPLEMAN. 

